Gary Hochstetler is the sales manager of Southwood Pallet and serves on the board of directors. Southwood Pallet is a third-generation pallet manufacturing business in Orrville, Ohio. An affiliated business, S&W Express, provides trucking services. Gary’s father, Ivan, is the owner of the companies.
Pallet Enterprise: What is the best piece of business advice that you have ever received?
Hochstetler: Always stay honest and don’t take any shortcuts. It’s a crazy world we live in. It’s actually pretty easy to become successful. All you have to do is lie, cheat and steal. It’s another ball game to keep your integrity.
Your lasting legacy will be living inside people. You can make a generational impact based on how you treat people in every business encounter. Strive to treat everyone with the same level of respect. Be honest and communicate openly. Keep your integrity. Choose the high road.
Pallet Enterprise: What do you think your company will look like five to 10 years from now?
Hochstetler: Hopefully, we’ll have a little more automation to control labor costs, increase pallets per man hour, improve efficiency and take pressure off employees wherever we can.
Pallet Enterprise: How do you decide whether or not to try out a new idea in your company?
Hochstetler: We usually run new ideas through our management team. Communication is number one. We want to hear everyone’s questions, concerns and ideas. We want them to feel comfortable bringing an idea even if nobody agrees with it. We don’t want someone to shut it down right away. We want the person with the idea to feel free to open up and have their idea scrutinized.
Pallet Enterprise: How do you go about your workday to stay productive and on target?
Hochstetler: That can be a challenge, for sure, especially if you do a few more things besides just your job. Most of us are active in the community too and have families. You do your best. At the end of the day, trust the Lord with your best.
Stay focused. It takes building good habits. Write down a list of things you want to get done. Keep it in front of you. Write down your goals. You’re 80% more likely to get them done even if you don’t look at them again.
Pallet Enterprise: Have you ever had what you thought was a great business idea completely flop?
Hochstetler: Back in 2020, we decided to get into assembly work for corrugated. Eventually, we dropped it. Sometimes you have to fail at a couple of things. It’s a great way to learn – to fail at something.
Pallet Enterprise: How do you help new employees understand your company’s culture and core values?
Hochstetler: Right up front, during the first walk-through, our HR director and general manager make sure to explain it. You need the upper level management to shake hands with them and make sure they’re appreciated. In the day-to- day operations, try to make sure they see your face often enough.
I personally spend a little time with some employees outside of work. I play on an indoor soccer team with them. It’s a great opportunity to connect with them. In order for someone to catch the vision of your culture, they have to get to know you. You can say all kinds of things, but until they see you actually live it, it’s not going to stick. Leadership comes from the top down. It’s amazing when you have a good culture…business just runs much smoother when people buy into the culture.
